DARKNESS BETRAYED

  He stepped toward her, allowing his cool power to wash over her. Brigette shivered in pleasure.

  “Until we’ve discovered who is ultimately behind the attacks, someone must keep an eye on Maryam.” His dark gaze swept down her body before returning to rest on her upturned face. “Besides…”

  “Besides what?”

  His smiled revealed a hint of fang. “Besides, I intend to keep an eye on you.”

  More shivers raced through Brigette. Along with a white-hot anticipation that clenched her stomach. She tried to hide her fierce reaction behind a pretense of indifference.

  “I’ve told you guys I don’t need a babysitter.”

  His smile widened. “Babysitting is the last thing on my mind.”

  For a breathless moment, Brigette’s gaze was mesmerized by the sight of those razor-sharp fangs. She’d always been isolated. First, by her overprotective pack, and then by the curse of the Beast. But she’d heard stories about what a vampire could do with his bite. The pleasure was supposedly so intense a creature could become instantly addicted.

  Did she want to find out for herself?

  Books by Alexandra Ivy

  Guardians of Eternity

  When Darkness Comes

  Embrace the Darkness

  Darkness Everlasting

  Darkness Revealed

  Darkness Unleashed

  Beyond the Darkness

  Devoured by Darkness

  Bound by Darkness

  Fear the Darkness

  Darkness Avenged

  Hunt the Darkness

  When Darkness Ends

  Darkness Returns

  Beware the Darkness

  Conquer the Darkness

  Shades of Darkness

  Darkness Betrayed

  The Immortal Rogues

  My Lord Vampire

  My Lord Eternity

  My Lord Immortality

  The Sentinels

  Born in Blood

  Blood Assassin

  Blood Lust

  Ares Security

  Kill without Mercy

  Kill without Shame

  Historical Romance

  Some Like It Wicked

  Some Like It Sinful

  Some Like It Brazen

  Romantic Suspense

  Pretend You’re Safe

  What Are You Afraid Of?

  You Will Suffer

  The Intended Victim

  Don’t Look

  Faceless

  And don’t miss these Guardians of Eternity novellas

  Taken by Darkness, in Yours for Eternity

  Darkness Eternal, in Supernatural

  Where Darkness Lives, in The Real Werewives of Vampire County

  Levet (Ebook Only)

  A Very Levet Christmas (Ebook Only)

  And don’t miss these Sentinel novellas

  Out of Control

  On the Hunt

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

  Table of Contents

  DARKNESS BETRAYED

  Books by Alexandra Ivy

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Darkness Betrayed

  Alexandra Ivy

  LYRICAL PRESS

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  LYRICAL PRESS BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2021 by Debbie Raleigh

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use.

  Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

  Lyrical Press and Lyrical Press logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  First Electronic Edition: May 2021

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-1095-7 (ebook)

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-1095-1 (ebook)

  First Print Edition: May 2021

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-1098-8

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-1098-6

  Printed in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To David, who is always there. Thanks for all you do.

  Chapter 1

  The lair of the Anasso, King of the Vampires, should have been a dank, musty place filled with bats and a few shabby coffins to emphasize the whole creepy vibe. Or at least dug deep underground to avoid the dastardly sunlight.

  Instead, Styx had chosen a sprawling mansion on the outskirts of Chicago with lots of marble and gilt that was supposed to give it a classic sophistication. Okay, it had been Styx’s mate who’d chosen it. Styx personally thought it looked like something an aging rocker with too many burnt brain cells would choose, but it pleased Darcy. And since she was a pureblood Were with claws that could literally rip out a male’s throat, he tried to keep her happy.

  Styx was currently in his office, which had been stripped of most of the gilt, although there was nothing he could do about the marble. Or the fluted columns that grew like a forest throughout the mansion. He’d intended to spend a few hours enjoying an ancient manuscript that had been loaned to him by Jagr. Darcy had recently gone to Kansas City to visit her twin sister, who was mated to the King of Weres, Salvatore, and their litter of pups. It’d been his suggestion that she take the trip, but she’d been eager to agree. She claimed that late fall was the perfect time to travel to see the leaves changing colors.

  Styx had declined her invitation to go with her. He wasn’t interested in foliage, no matter what color it might be. More importantly, the Were pups had reached an age when they spent an enormous amount of energy racing through the house, shrieking and yipping at the top of their lungs. It didn’t matter if they were in their human form or their wolf form. The noise was enough to raise the dead.

  And not in a good way.

  Unfortunately, his decision to remain behind hadn’t gone as he’d planned. He’d barely settled into his large leather chair when a male shoved open the door to the office.

  Xi was one of his Ravens, the personal guards who’d sworn to protect him. Unlike Jagr, who was the leader of the Ravens, Xi wasn’t bulky or as strong as an ox. He wasn’t even the most powerful warrior, although anyone stupid enough to challenge him would quickly find himself with a dagger shoved into his chest and his heart cut out.

  But he possessed a unique talent for stealth that made him the perfect choice for Styx’s latest assignment.

  Setting aside the manuscript, Styx regarded his Raven with a lift of his brows. The male was just under six foot, with short black hair that was shaved on the sides to reveal, on his scalp, the tattoos of two coiled snakes. His eyes were dark and his finely carved features so perfect he didn’t look real. He was standing in the open doorway wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt. Keeping with the theme, his heavy boots were also black. The clothing was more about blending into the background than any particular fashion choice.

  Styx, on the other hand, was wearing black leather pants and a white silk shirt because that’s all he had in his closet. Darcy had finally accepted that he was never going to dress like a king.

  “Are you looking for me?” Styx demanded when the male continued to stand there, eying him with an inscrutable expression.

  “Yes.”

  “Then what are you waiting on? An engraved invitation?”

  Xi’s dark gaze drifted around the room before returning to Styx. “I’m attempting to decide whether or not I have the courage to enter.”

  Styx scowled. He’d witnessed this male battle a horde of orcs with nothing more than his fangs and a dagger.

  “The one thing you’ve never lacked is cour
age, amigo.”

  “Normally, I would agree with you, but you have been…”

  Styx lifted his six-foot-five body out of the chair. “I’ve been what?”

  “Volatile over the past weeks,” Xi told him.

  The Raven was right. The past month had stretched Styx’s limited patience to the breaking point. It was nothing he could put his finger on. Unexplained fires. Sudden riots. Vandalism. Brutal attacks on lesser demons.

  Every night, he woke to discover a line of demons waiting to make a complaint or plead for his assistance. It was enough to stress out the most Zen vampire. And there was nothing Zen about Styx.

  Which was why he’d requested Xi to investigate the various incidents.

  With an effort, Styx leashed his burst of annoyance at the interruption. He even managed to force a wry smile to his lips.

  “According to my mate, I’m always volatile.”

  Xi didn’t argue. “More volatile than usual,” he clarified.

  “Mount Etna volatile or Mount Vesuvius?”

  Xi answered without hesitation. “Definitely Mount Vesuvius.”

  Styx tapped a finger on the edge of his desk. He was often short-tempered. It was part of his charm. But the past month had rubbed his nerves raw.

  “I’ve had stressful times, terrifying times, and the world-is-about-to-end times. But this…” He shook his head. “I feel like I’m being tormented by a thousand unseen ants. Each biting when I least expect it.”

  “The city is seething.”

  “Seething. Yes. That’s exactly what’s happening,” Styx agreed. It was like they were sitting on a simmering pot that might boil over at any moment. “I don’t suppose you’ve managed to discover what’s causing the trouble?”

  “I have answers for the latest incidents.” Xi strolled forward, halting next to the desk. “The collapse at the sanctuary happened when the wooden beams in the ceiling shattered.”

  The sanctuary had been Darcy’s idea. She’d spent years barely scraping by, unaware why she was different from other people. She wanted a place for demons to go that would offer them food and a warm place to sleep, as well as protection from the more predatory creatures. Or even from humans, who had a tendency to kill what they feared.

  A week ago, the old warehouse collapsed into a pile of rubble, wounding several of those seeking asylum. Darcy had been furious, and Styx had promised to get to the bottom of the collapse.

  “Did someone tamper with them?” he asked Xi.

  The Raven shrugged. “The damage was too great to determine if it was an accident or deliberate.”

  Styx was willing to bet it was deliberate. “And the others?”

  “The fire at the Viper Club was caused by an electrical surge,” Xi continued. “And the rampaging vampire that we captured claims he was kidnapped and injected with some unknown toxin that sent him into a psychotic episode.”

  It’d only been a night ago that Styx had received a frantic call that warned there was a crazed vampire destroying a human nightclub. The male was not only creating chaos, but he was threatening to expose the existence of vampires. Something that would be catastrophic for the entire demon-world.

  Styx had personally gone to the club to capture the idiot and toss him into a locked cell. It was also when he’d suggested to Darcy that she might want to visit her sister. Anything to get her out of town.

  “Where was he kidnapped from?” Styx demanded.

  “In front of your lair.”

  Styx hissed in outrage. What demon had the balls to kidnap a vampire beneath the nose of the Anasso?

  A dead one.

  Grimly, he resisted the urge to push his fist through the wall. Now that he was king, he had to pay for repairs. It was insane what a good carpenter could charge.

  “What was the vampire doing here?”

  “He doesn’t remember. All he can recall is leaving his home two nights ago to hunt for his dinner and being attacked by two Weres, who held him down and injected him with something. The next thing he knew, he was chained in your dungeon.”

  “Darcy doesn’t like the word ‘dungeon,’” Styx reminded his companion, his thoughts distracted. Had the vampire been kidnapped because he was coming to see Styx? Perhaps he knew something about the troubles plaguing the city. Or had he been kidnapped just because he happened to be near Styx’s lair? Like a warning shot?

  Impossible to know for sure.

  “Holding center for disobliging guests,” Xi offered in dry tones.

  “That’s better.”

  “If you say so.”

  Styx shrugged. He didn’t understand his mate’s distaste for the word “dungeon.” There were cells that locked and guards to keep watch. You could call it the Four Seasons Resort if you wanted; it didn’t change what it was.

  “He was sure it was Weres?” he asked his companion.

  “Positive. And I could smell the scent of dogs when I went to interview him.”

  Styx continued to tap his finger, his mind seething. Could the Weres be behind this relentless attack? The thought made his stomach clench with dread.

  “I need to have a word with Salvatore.” Salvatore was the King of Weres and Styx’s brother-in-law. Yep, he could write the book on dysfunctional families. “Then I’ll question our disobliging guest.” He reached to touch the massive sword strapped to his back. For the past couple of weeks, he had never left his bedroom without it. Some people had therapy animals. He had a big, pointy weapon that could slice off a troll’s head. Hey, it gave him comfort. “I might be able to prompt his memory.”

  “I’ll continue to dig for information on the other disturbances,” Xi offered, his expression even more stoic than usual, a certain sign that something was bothering him.

  “You seem…”

  Xi frowned. “What?”

  “Troubled.”

  Xi hesitated. His emotions were always hidden, but they ran as hot as lava beneath his icy composure.

  “The accidents could be random,” he finally said.

  “But?”

  Xi shrugged. “But I don’t believe in coincidences.”

  “Neither do I,” Styx agreed. “See what you can find out. But be careful.”

  Xi arched his brows. Styx grunted, not having to guess why his guard seemed surprised. He sent his Ravens to deal with the most challenging, most dangerous tasks. They were a brutal weapon that he wielded without mercy.

  He certainly never patted them on the head and told them to be careful.

  Styx twisted his lips. “There’s a funky feeling in the air,” he muttered.

  Xi’s brows arched even higher. Styx rolled his eyes.

  “Go do your job,” Styx growled.

  A faint smile skimmed over Xi’s lips before he turned and silently disappeared from the room.

  * * * *

  Brigette was on the hunt.

  Gliding through the darkness, she crouched low to the ground as she followed the two intruders. She’d picked up their scents long before they’d actually entered the desolated grounds that surrounded her lair. A benefit of spending time alone in this remote part of Ireland.

  Night after night, she prowled through the village, which was nothing more than shattered foundations and sorrowful ghosts. Or along the barren cliffs, listening to the waves crash against the jagged stones and breathing deeply of the salty breeze. She had nothing to distract her.

  Well, unless you counted the thousand regrets that haunted her.

  Regret for having betrayed her pack to join with the evil Beast who’d nearly destroyed her. Regret for having driven her wolf into hibernation. Regret for having wasted her opportunity to rewrite history.

  She was lying in the ruins of her parents’ cottage when she detected the icy power of an approaching vampire. With a fluid speed, she was on her feet and racing over the decaying ground to circle around the intruders.

  Following behind them, Brigette took inventory of the two demons who were attempting to sneak along the edge of the cliff.

  The vampire was a tall, slender female with pale blond hair pulled into a long braid. She was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and tight black slacks that made her look like she was stepping off a runway, not trudging through the tough heather and climbing over rocks.

  The sight was annoying as hell.